
The
Virginia
Human
Rights
Act
passed
by
the
General
Assembly
earlier
this
year
requires
that
the
policies
of
educational
institutions,
including
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS),
safeguard
all
individuals
within
the
Commonwealth
from
unlawful
discrimination
because
of
race,
color,
religion,
national
origin,
sex,
pregnancy,
childbirth
or
related
medical
conditions,
age,
marital
status,
sexual
orientation,
gender
identity,
military
status,
or
disability
in
places
of
public
accommodation,
including
educational
institutions.
PWCS
is
committed
to
ensuring
a
safe
and
welcoming
environment
for
every
student,
family,
and
employee.
The
purpose
of
School
Division
policies
addressing
nondiscrimination
is
to
ensure
that
all
PWCS
students
have
access
to
our
educational
programs
and
facilities
so
they
can
learn,
graduate,
and
have
successful
futures.
The
update
to
Policy
738
ensures
that
all
PWCS
policy
statements
pertaining
to
nondiscrimination
are
consistent
with
state
law.
School
Board
members
are
required
by
Virginia
law
to
ensure
that
all
laws
applicable
to
schools
are
enforced
and
observed,
including
those
protecting
the
rights
of
students
from
military
families,
students
who
may
become
pregnant,
and
students'
gender
identity.
Last
school
year,
the
School
Board
voted
to
update
two
of
its
other
nondiscrimination
policies
to
prohibit
discrimination
on
the
basis
of
sexual
orientation
and
gender
identity.
The
Gloucester
County
School
Board
v
Grimm
decision
has
made
it
clear
that
any
public
school
that
denies
a
transgender
student
the
right
to
access
its
school
programs
and
facilities
consistent
with
the
student's
gender
identity
is
engaging
in
discrimination
on
the
basis
of
sex
in
violation
of
Title
IX
and
the
Equal
Protection
clause
of
the
U.S.
Constitution.
That
is
the
law
in
Virginia.
The
policy
also
makes
clear
that
PWCS
is
required
by
state
law
to
implement
VDOE's
Model
Policies
for
Treatment
of
Transgender
Students
in
Virginia's
Public
Schools.
School
divisions
that
do
not
follow
state
and
federal
law
to
ensure
protections
for
transgender
students
face
serious
legal
and
financial
consequences.
PWCS
Regulation
738-5,
"Treatment
of
Transgender
and
Gender
Nonconforming
Students,"
has
been
in
place
since
June
of
2021.
PWCS
administration
is
studying
that
regulation
in
response
to
feedback
from
staff
and
community
members.
Based
upon
that
additional
review,
the
regulation
will
be
re-issued
with
the
goal
of
addressing
concerns
raised
while
also
ensuring
alignment
with
the
VDOE
Model
Policies
for
Treatment
of
Transgender
Students
in
Virginia's
Public
Schools.
Training
for
staff
will
be
delivered
this
school
year.